Band 9 pay in Wales, 2026/27
Trust-level directors of profession. Senior medical staff and very senior managers are paid separately.
- Minimum
- £114,475
- Maximum
- £131,732
- Hourly at top
- £67.37
- Years to top
- 5
| Step | Years from entry | Annual | Hourly (37.5h) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | From day one | £114,475 | £58.54 |
| Intermediate | After 2 years | £121,377 | £62.07 |
| Top | After 5 years | £131,732 | £67.37 |
| Full range | £114,475 to £131,732 | £58.54 to £67.37 | |
Wales, 2026/27, effective 2026-04-01. Source: AfC(W) 02/2026 — Agenda for change payscales 2026/2027.
Band 9 in Wales, what the role involves
Band 9 is the top of the Agenda for Change pay scale. It covers Trust-level directors of profession: directors of nursing, chief allied health professionals, and directors of pharmacy. Doctors, dentists and Very Senior Managers (chief executives and other executive directors) sit on separate pay arrangements outside the Agenda for Change framework entirely.
Board-level executive work. A director of nursing leads the entire nursing workforce of a Trust, sits on the Trust Board with full voting rights, holds professional accountability for nursing standards across the whole organisation, and contributes to executive-level decisions on strategy, performance and finance. There is no clinical caseload at Band 9.
How NHS pay is set in Wales
NHS Wales follows the same Agenda for Change framework as the rest of the UK but issues its own pay circulars (AfC(W) letters) signed off by the Welsh Government's Health and Social Services Group. Welsh settlements have historically tracked England closely, although the 2025/26 deal pulled Welsh entry rates slightly ahead at the bottom of the scale.
The Welsh Government considers the NHS Pay Review Body recommendation alongside its own pay strategy. Welsh ministers usually adopt the PRB uplift, but they have occasionally gone further or applied it differently for specific bands. Pay circulars are published by the Health and Social Services Group and apply from 1 April with backdated arrears paid later in the year.
How Band 9 pay in Wales compares to other UK nations
At the top of Band 9 in Wales, staff earn £131,732 per year for 2026/27. Scotland pays Band 9 more at the top of band: £133,044, a difference of £1,312 per year (1.0% more than Wales).
Band 9 pay across all four nations is broadly aligned in the £105,000 to £133,000 range on the 2026/27 scales. Scottish Band 9 is structured with two pay points rather than three.
Recent NHS pay history in Wales
The 2025/26 settlement applied a 3.6% consolidated uplift, mirroring England in percentage terms. Welsh Band 3 entry was lifted to £25,313 (slightly above England's £24,937), reflecting the Welsh Government's stated commitment to keep the lowest entry rates above the Living Wage Foundation real Living Wage. The 2026/27 deal applied 3.3% on top, again broadly in line with England.
Common questions about Band 9 pay in Wales
- What is the Band 9 salary in Wales for 2026/27?
- Band 9 in Wales pays from £114,475 at entry to £131,732 at the top of the scale for 2026/27. Staff progress through 5 years to reach top of band.
- Does Wales pay Band 9 the same as the other UK nations?
- No. Scotland pays Band 9 more at the top of band, with a top rate of £133,044 compared to £131,732 in Wales. The difference is £1,312 per year (1.0%).
- What is the hourly rate for Band 9 in Wales?
- Based on a standard 37.5-hour NHS week, Band 9 entry pay of £114,475 works out at £58.54 per hour, rising to £67.37 per hour at the top of band.
- How is Band 9 pay set in Wales?
- The Welsh Government considers the NHS Pay Review Body recommendation alongside its own pay strategy. Welsh ministers usually adopt the PRB uplift, but they have occasionally gone further or applied it differently for specific bands. Pay circulars are published by the Health and Social Services Group and apply from 1 April with backdated arrears paid later in the year.